And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted!

我也要使你的后裔如同地上的尘沙那样多，人若能数算地上的尘沙才能数算你的后裔。

我要使你的后裔好像地上的尘沙，人若能数地上的尘沙，才能数你的后裔。

我要使你的后裔好像地上的尘沙，人若能数地上的尘沙，才能数你的后裔。

我要使你的后代多如地上的尘土，人若能数算地上的尘土，才能数算你的后代。

我要使你的后裔好像地上灰尘那么多；若能数算地上的灰尘，才能数算你的后裔。

我也要使你的后裔如同地上的尘沙那样多——如果人能数算地上的尘沙，才能数算你的后裔。

我也要使你的後裔如同地上的塵沙那樣多，人若能數算地上的塵沙才能數算你的後裔。

我要使你的後裔好像地上的塵沙，人若能數地上的塵沙，才能數你的後裔。

我要使你的後裔好像地上的塵沙，人若能數地上的塵沙，才能數你的後裔。

我要使你的後代多如地上的塵土，人若能數算地上的塵土，才能數算你的後代。

我要使你的後裔好像地上灰塵那麼多；若能數算地上的灰塵，才能數算你的後裔。

我要使你的後裔像地上的塵沙那麼多；若有人能數得清地上的塵沙，你的後裔也就能數得清。

我也要使你的後裔如同地上的塵沙那樣多——如果人能數算地上的塵沙，才能數算你的後裔。

使爾苗裔如塵埃然、有能核塵埃之數者、則爾苗裔、亦可計矣、

我必使爾苗裔、如塵沙然、若有能核塵沙之數者、則爾苗裔、亦可計矣。

我必使爾後裔多如地之塵沙然、若人能核數地之塵沙、則爾之後裔亦可核數、

I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted.

I will make them like the dust of the earth. Can dust be counted? If it can, then your family can be counted.

I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted.

I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted.

I will make your descendants as plentiful as the dust of the earth, so that if anyone can count the dust of the earth, then your descendants could also be counted.

And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered.

And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then may thy seed also be numbered.

I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted.

And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth,[ then] shall thy seed also be numbered.

And I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone is able to count the dust of the earth, then your descendants also can be counted.

I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can count the dust of the earth, then your offspring may also be counted.

Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will spread out in all directions— to the west and the east, to the north and the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants.

Who can count Jacob’s descendants, as numerous as dust? Who can count even a fourth of Israel’s people? Let me die like the righteous; let my life end like theirs.”

But you promised me,‘ I will surely treat you kindly, and I will multiply your descendants until they become as numerous as the sands along the seashore— too many to count.’”

I will certainly bless you. I will multiply your descendants beyond number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will conquer the cities of their enemies.

And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted!

Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him,“ Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”

Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You bound yourself with an oath to them, saying,‘ I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven. And I will give them all of this land that I have promised to your descendants, and they will possess it forever.’”

Abraham married another wife, whose name was Keturah.She gave birth to Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. Dedan’s descendants were the Asshurites, Letushites, and Leummites.Midian’s sons were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. These were all descendants of Abraham through Keturah.Abraham gave everything he owned to his son Isaac.But before he died, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them off to a land in the east, away from Isaac.Abraham lived for 175 years,and he died at a ripe old age, having lived a long and satisfying life. He breathed his last and joined his ancestors in death.His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, near Mamre, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite.This was the field Abraham had purchased from the Hittites and where he had buried his wife Sarah.After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac, who settled near Beer lahai roi in the Negev.This is the account of the family of Ishmael, the son of Abraham through Hagar, Sarah’s Egyptian servant.Here is a list, by their names and clans, of Ishmael’s descendants: The oldest was Nebaioth, followed by Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,Mishma, Dumah, Massa,Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.These twelve sons of Ishmael became the founders of twelve tribes named after them, listed according to the places they settled and camped.Ishmael lived for 137 years. Then he breathed his last and joined his ancestors in death.Ishmael’s descendants occupied the region from Havilah to Shur, which is east of Egypt in the direction of Asshur. There they lived in open hostility toward all their relatives.This is the account of the family of Isaac, the son of Abraham.When Isaac was forty years old, he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan aram and the sister of Laban the Aramean.Isaac pleaded with the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was unable to have children. The Lord answered Isaac’s prayer, and Rebekah became pregnant with twins.But the two children struggled with each other in her womb. So she went to ask the Lord about it.“ Why is this happening to me?” she asked.And the Lord told her,“ The sons in your womb will become two nations. From the very beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other; and your older son will serve your younger son.”And when the time came to give birth, Rebekah discovered that she did indeed have twins!The first one was very red at birth and covered with thick hair like a fur coat. So they named him Esau.Then the other twin was born with his hand grasping Esau’s heel. So they named him Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when the twins were born.As the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter. He was an outdoorsman, but Jacob had a quiet temperament, preferring to stay at home.Isaac loved Esau because he enjoyed eating the wild game Esau brought home, but Rebekah loved Jacob.One day when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau arrived home from the wilderness exhausted and hungry.Esau said to Jacob,“ I’m starved! Give me some of that red stew!”( This is how Esau got his other name, Edom, which means“ red.”)“ All right,” Jacob replied,“ but trade me your rights as the firstborn son.”“ Look, I’m dying of starvation!” said Esau.“ What good is my birthright to me now?”But Jacob said,“ First you must swear that your birthright is mine.” So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his brother, Jacob.Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate the meal, then got up and left. He showed contempt for his rights as the firstborn.

“ For Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him.

The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They were very contented, with plenty to eat and drink.

After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands.

The Lord your God has increased your population, making you as numerous as the stars!

“ I am God, the God of your father,” the voice said.“ Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make your family into a great nation.

As for Ishmael, I will bless him also, just as you have asked. I will make him extremely fruitful and multiply his descendants. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.

May God Almighty bless you and give you many children. And may your descendants multiply and become many nations!

His army was enrolled according to ancestral clans. From Judah there were 300,000 troops organized in units of 1,000, under the command of Adnah.Next in command was Jehohanan, who commanded 280,000 troops.Next was Amasiah son of Zicri, who volunteered for the Lord’s service, with 200,000 troops under his command.From Benjamin there were 200,000 troops equipped with bows and shields. They were under the command of Eliada, a veteran soldier.Next in command was Jehozabad, who commanded 180,000 armed men.

And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead— a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.

I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

These enemy hordes, coming with their livestock and tents, were as thick as locusts; they arrived on droves of camels too numerous to count. And they stayed until the land was stripped bare.

But I will also make a nation of the descendants of Hagar’s son because he is your son, too.”

When David took his census, he did not count those who were younger than twenty years of age, because the Lord had promised to make the Israelites as numerous as the stars in heaven.

I will cause your descendants to become as numerous as the stars of the sky, and I will give them all these lands. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed.

Then God said,“ I am El Shaddai—‘ God Almighty.’ Be fruitful and multiply. You will become a great nation, even many nations. Kings will be among your descendants!

This is the account of the descendants of Esau( also known as Edom).Esau married two young women from Canaan: Adah, the daughter of Elon the Hittite; and Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite.He also married his cousin Basemath, who was the daughter of Ishmael and the sister of Nebaioth.Adah gave birth to a son named Eliphaz for Esau. Basemath gave birth to a son named Reuel.Oholibamah gave birth to sons named Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. All these sons were born to Esau in the land of Canaan.Esau took his wives, his children, and his entire household, along with his livestock and cattle— all the wealth he had acquired in the land of Canaan— and moved away from his brother, Jacob.There was not enough land to support them both because of all the livestock and possessions they had acquired.So Esau( also known as Edom) settled in the hill country of Seir.This is the account of Esau’s descendants, the Edomites, who lived in the hill country of Seir.These are the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz, the son of Esau’s wife Adah; and Reuel, the son of Esau’s wife Basemath.The descendants of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz.Timna, the concubine of Esau’s son Eliphaz, gave birth to a son named Amalek. These are the descendants of Esau’s wife Adah.The descendants of Reuel were Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These are the descendants of Esau’s wife Basemath.Esau also had sons through Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon. Their names were Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.These are the descendants of Esau who became the leaders of various clans: The descendants of Esau’s oldest son, Eliphaz, became the leaders of the clans of Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz,Korah, Gatam, and Amalek. These are the clan leaders in the land of Edom who descended from Eliphaz. All these were descendants of Esau’s wife Adah.The descendants of Esau’s son Reuel became the leaders of the clans of Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These are the clan leaders in the land of Edom who descended from Reuel. All these were descendants of Esau’s wife Basemath.The descendants of Esau and his wife Oholibamah became the leaders of the clans of Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These are the clan leaders who descended from Esau’s wife Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah.These are the clans descended from Esau( also known as Edom), identified by their clan leaders.These are the names of the tribes that descended from Seir the Horite. They lived in the land of Edom: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These were the Horite clan leaders, the descendants of Seir, who lived in the land of Edom.The descendants of Lotan were Hori and Hemam. Lotan’s sister was named Timna.The descendants of Shobal were Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.The descendants of Zibeon were Aiah and Anah.( This is the Anah who discovered the hot springs in the wilderness while he was grazing his father’s donkeys.)The descendants of Anah were his son, Dishon, and his daughter, Oholibamah.The descendants of Dishon were Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Keran.The descendants of Ezer were Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.The descendants of Dishan were Uz and Aran.So these were the leaders of the Horite clans: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. The Horite clans are named after their clan leaders, who lived in the land of Seir.These are the kings who ruled in the land of Edom before any king ruled over the Israelites:Bela son of Beor, who ruled in Edom from his city of Dinhabah.When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah became king in his place.When Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites became king in his place.When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad became king in his place and ruled from the city of Avith. He was the one who defeated the Midianites in the land of Moab.When Hadad died, Samlah from the city of Masrekah became king in his place.When Samlah died, Shaul from the city of Rehoboth on the River became king in his place.When Shaul died, Baal hanan son of Acbor became king in his place.When Baal hanan son of Acbor died, Hadad became king in his place and ruled from the city of Pau. His wife was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred and granddaughter of Me zahab.These are the names of the leaders of the clans descended from Esau, who lived in the places named for them: Timna, Alvah, Jetheth,Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon,Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar,Magdiel, and Iram. These are the leaders of the clans of Edom, listed according to their settlements in the land they occupied. They all descended from Esau, the ancestor of the Edomites.

and reported the number of people to David. There were 1,100,000 warriors in all Israel who could handle a sword, and 470,000 in Judah.

And as the stars of the sky cannot be counted and the sand on the seashore cannot be measured, so I will multiply the descendants of my servant David and the Levites who minister before me.”

And I will bless her and give you a son from her! Yes, I will bless her richly, and she will become the mother of many nations. Kings of nations will be among her descendants.”

Oh, that you had listened to my commands! Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling over you like waves in the sea.Your descendants would have been like the sands along the seashore— too many to count! There would have been no need for your destruction, or for cutting off your family name.”

Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, marauders from Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east would attack Israel,

So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe.That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him,“ I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping— believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him,“ That’s how many descendants you will have!”

But their descendants, the Israelites, had many children and grandchildren. In fact, they multiplied so greatly that they became extremely powerful and filled the land.

I will make you extremely fruitful. Your descendants will become many nations, and kings will be among them!